$10,379
Average
$9,373
Low
$11,259
High
$7,154
Verified Floor
31.1%
Markup
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Cost index by David Olson · reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson · 2026.Q1
Independent FatBook v3 cost indexVerified permit/source data where availableReviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Denver
Analyzing…
Denver painting prices come in 11.1% below the national average at $10,379, which sounds like good news, until you look at the markup structure. At 31.1%, contractors here are taking a larger-than-average margin. The floor of $7,154 reveals significant room between what most contractors quote and what the market can actually support.
High-margin market. Denver contractors are averaging 31.1% above their verified floor price. The gap is $3,225. Your strongest move: request an itemized line-item breakdown, then compare labor hours and material costs against our benchmark data. The P15 floor of $7,154 represents what 15% of contractors already charge.
Peak-season pricing is in effect. May is high-demand season for Denver painting contractors. Crews are booked out and negotiating power shifts to the contractor. Expect quotes at the upper end of the $9,373–$11,259 range. If your timeline allows it, waiting 2–3 months could save you $968–$1,935 vs. peak pricing. If you must move now, get quotes fast, availability matters more than negotiation in peak season.
The gap between what Denver homeowners typically pay and what the market can support is $3,225, one of the largest in our index. To put that in context: the floor price of $7,154 isn't a discount or a coupon. It's the P15, the price point that 15% of verified contractors already charge. The other 85% are charging more, often significantly more, for the same scope of work.
Denver sits in the upper half of our pricing index, more expensive than 3 of 5 tracked metros but cheaper than 1. This mid-to-upper position reflects moderate regional labor costs. The $3,225 gap between average and floor pricing is where your negotiating power lives.
Show the math: how Denver Whole House Painting numbers are derived Click to expand
Derivation for Denver, Whole House Painting · cost_index 2026.Q2
Step 1: Craftsman labor hours
BOM hours from Craftsman National Estimator: 111 hrs (typical project: 2500 sq ft)
Step 2: BLS wage × burden
Denver wage from BLS OES: $26.47/hr
Burden rate (FICA + workers' comp + insurance + unemployment): 37.2%
loaded_wage = $26.47 × 1.3717 = $36.31/hr
Step 3: Labor cost
labor = 111 hrs × $36.31/hr = $4,030
Step 4: Materials (PPI-adjusted)
Craftsman material cost × FRED PPI multiplier (1.0386): $2,318
Materials pass through at cost. PPI multiplier inflation-adjusts the BOM book price to current market.
Step 6: Direct cost
direct = labor + materials + permit = $4,030 + $2,318 + $0 = $6,348
Step 7: Overhead
NAHB benchmark: 20% of (labor + permit). Materials are pass-through and don't carry overhead.
overhead = ($4,030 + $0) × 0.20 = $806
Step 8: Cost to deliver
cost_to_deliver = direct + overhead = $6,348 + $806 = $7,154
What it actually costs a contractor to do this job in Denver, before profit.
Step 9: Verified floor
Lowest verified bid in Denver for this scope: $7,154
Floor sits above cost-to-deliver, which is the expected pattern for a fair market.
Step 10: Typical contractor quote
Market average from verified contractor pricing in Denver: $10,379
Step 11: Contractor gross margin
margin = ($10,379 - $7,154) / $10,379 × 100 = 31.1%
The portion of the typical quote that is not cost-to-deliver. Higher = more room to negotiate.
Step 12: Savings potential
savings = $10,379 - $7,154 = $3,225
The gap between the typical quote and the verified floor in Denver.
Same v3 BOM applied to every service in every metro. Sources: BLS OES wages, FRED PPI series, Craftsman National Estimator, city permit offices. Updated 2026.Q2. Full methodology →
2026.Q2 Quick Answer
In 2026.Q2, painting in Denver averages $10,379, with a typical local range of $9,373 to $11,259. The verified floor is $7,154, so inflated bids may leave about $3,225 in negotiable savings.
Updated May 2026. Sources: BLS OEWS, FRED PPI, Craftsman labor-hour references, city permit data where available, and FatBook v3 cost-index methodology.
How this number is calculated
TheFatBook models painting from Craftsman labor hours, BLS regional wages, burden, PPI-adjusted materials, permit data where available, and contractor overhead benchmarks. Cost index version: 2026.Q2. Updated May 2026.
Data Sources Used On This Page
- Independent FatBook v3 cost index for Painting in Denver.
- BLS OEWS wage inputs and FRED PPI material inflation references.
- Craftsman labor-hour references and contractor overhead benchmarks.
- Verified permit/source data from PermitCalculator.com and permits_compiled where available.
Cost-index version: 2026.Q2
Updated: May 2026
Sources: BLS, Craftsman, FRED
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Estimate Scope
What the painting in denver benchmark includes.
Included in the benchmark
- Whole House Painting as the headline cost-index scope
- labor-hour assumptions, regional wage inputs, materials, overhead, and permit data where available
- low, average, high, verified-floor, markup, and savings benchmarks from the FatBook cost index
Not included automatically
- hidden damage, change orders, emergency service premiums, or unusual site access conditions
- contractor financing approval, warranties, provider recommendations, or guaranteed final quotes
- permit rulings for a specific address unless the city permit panel lists verified local data
Denver Service Pricing
| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior House Painting | $4,286 | $4,746 | $5,148 |
| Interior House Painting | $2,584 | $2,861 | $3,104 |
| Room Painting | $407 | $450 | $489 |
| Whole House Painting | $9,373 | $10,379 | $11,259 |
| Paint Stripping | $261 | $289 | $314 |
| Exterior Wash and Prep | $732 | $811 | $879 |
| Window Painting | $242 | $267 | $290 |
| Trim and Baseboard Painting | $451 | $499 | $542 |
| Cabinet Painting | $7,510 | $8,316 | $9,021 |
| Deck Staining | $418 | $462 | $502 |
| Concrete Floor Coating | $423 | $468 | $508 |
| Door Painting | $403 | $446 | $484 |
| Fence Staining | $350 | $387 | $420 |
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Permit Information
Denver permits.
Structure
Denver uses same valuation-based fee formula for ALL trade permits (building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC). Plan review is 50% of permit fee for projects over $2,000. Quick permits (water heaters, roof coverings, light fixtures) have no plan review fee.
Department
Community Planning and Development (CPD)
Phone
311 (local) or (720) 913-1311 (outside Denver)
Official Source
Verified
2026-03-23
Fee Anchors
$8k building fee: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
Source-backed permit facts from PermitCalculator.com and the underlying permits_compiled dataset. Always confirm final requirements with the local building department before filing.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Founder of TheFatBook · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co. · 2026.Q1